Quick ‘Cap:
After a dominant first inning from Phil Hughes, Hideki Matsui greeted him with a home run in the second. But that was the only blemish on Hughes’s line. He finished the fifth with 97 pitches, but Girardi opted to start him in the sixth and he allowed Torii Hunter to reach, who eventually scored on a grounder off David Robertson.
Cano responded to Matsui’s homer with a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the second. Cano added a two-run homer in the fifth inning to chase lefty Scott Kazmir. Derek Jeter hit a solo shot in the third and lined a two-run double in the fourth. Granderson recorded two triples for the fifth time in his career.
Besides the inherited runner Robertson allowed, the bullpen was dominant. Damaso Marte struck out Bobby Abreu to end a seventh-inning rally, Joba Chamberlain induced an inning-ending double play in the eighth, and Mariano Rivera got the last out to pick up his fourth save. Full box score here.
Thoughts:
Tonight was very pleasurable to watch. Hughes looked very good in his debut: 5+IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 6 K. The walks are obviously a little high, but he was just missing the corners (or getting jipped).
Granderson threw out Matsui at home (he was safe, but it was a good throw). Swisher had a couple bombs to center kept in the park due to wind. Cano continued to mash and Mark Teixeira walked three times. The bullpen was great too. Things are looking good in Yankeeland.
Line of the Night:
Cano: 2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI. He’s hitting .395/.400/.816. I’m hoping once pitchers start pitching around him he’ll be able to draw some walks to improve that on-base percentage.
Up Next:
The Yankees stay at home this weekend for a three-game set against the Rangers beginning Friday night.
